Between Christmas Lights and Shadows

2

I heard a wrap of knuckles on wood. Scaring the living hell out of me! I looked at the old alarm clock on the dresser that showed I slowly crawled and rose from the end of the bed. Praying it was a knock and ditch, the manager or absolutely nothing. I looked out of the peephole. Nothing. Oh, thank God! I sighed. Turning around to go back to the warm bed. But my heart along with my brain stopped when the sealed off door that I noticed earlier with no handle… had a very dim light outlining its silhouette. I froze… What was behind here. This place was shady, I knew, but God Damn it! Why the room I book? The panic was rising so fast I felt like it was pushing the air from my body and I wasn’t able to take in anymore. Was it a room of cameras?... A freak who creeps on guest… A murderer. I prayed hard that he was a murderer rather than a rap - … The coldness from the thought made me feel my fight or flight instinct. And I think I was going to fly the f**k out of here! I tiptoed to my bed and grabbed my boots, slid them and my puffy coat over my sweats and tank top. Grabbing my bag and phone. I kept my eyes on the door as I approached it again to get to the entrance. Right as I began to pass right in front of it, almost as if motion censored, the door popped open, the once dim light glowing brighter from behind it. I jumped so hard and let out a little scream! The door is slightly ajar now. I could hear the wrapping of knuckles against wood again but it was more rhythmic now. I was so f*****g scared. I almost wished I could blame being on drugs or drunk off of my tail… But this was very much happening or I’ve gone mad now. Too far gone to save. My chest was heaving but silence and the sound of my breathing, entangled with faint… jingle bells?… was all that was heard. A slight breeze from behind the door in the room made it move gently. Even though I was terrified - that being an understatement - there was a part of me that wanted to see what was behind the door. Without thinking, I’d taken a few steps, now only inches away from the door. I placed my shaky hand on the door, giving it a gentle push. Clamping my eyes shut due to fear.

I waited almost 45 seconds before I slowly opened my eyes. Light began to shine so bright as if I’d opened the door to the sun. My eyes squinted against that and the breeze that came from it. I walked inward, my boots crunching on top of... Snow? I kept walking. Until I tripped in a large heap of snow. Cold!!!!! I was too stunned to speak! I opened my eyes, now better adjusted. Okay, I have to be gone off something… because what stood before me was a valley of hills with a perfect, pretty snow blanket laid atop of it and a trail of trees, so white and fluffy. The jingling of the bells coming from inside of them. I was paralyzed by frigidness and what I saw. I turned around quickly to the door but… it was gone… No, God… What… Where is the f*****g door!? I frantically searched around. I began even tossing snow around. “No no no no! What’s happening!” My teeth chattered as I talked to myself. Trying to remain as calm as possible. I groped at my chest, failing to remain calm. “Gia, please be on drugs, please be on drugs. Someone drugged your pop… Please…” I clenched my eyes shut. Waiting. Waiting. I opened them, looking around at the same snowy valley and forest. “Why did I go through that damn door…” I spoke to myself. The wooshing of the cold wind was all that responded.

A sudden crunch coming from the woods sounded, making me bound to my feet, crouched like a frightened crackhead! I looked toward the noise, my eyes searching wildly. Until I caught the glimmer of eyes. A deer - no, a huge buck! With antlers so large, his stance is dominant. I cowered some as I watched it kick its hoove and gently nod at me. I stared back, dumbfounded. This isn’t happening right now. I stood slowly. It kicked up some snow again. And then leaned its head the opposite direction he was facing. Making a snorting sound. Then, again, we were in another stare off. Until he turned into the forest and walked. I felt compelled in my imagination that I should follow it. This is just a very lucid dream. Maybe feel it out and you’ll eventually wake up. I said to myself, unsure now if I was shaking so hard due to the cold or my fear and panic. I followed with baby doe-like knees behind the buck on the forest trail.

I’m not exactly sure how long I’d been walking by now but it was long enough that I had enough time to talk myself down from multiple anxiety attacks, cursed God, begged for forgiveness and accepted that I may very well be dead. I felt a little disoriented. A cold sweat encased me inside my coat. But my legs were freezing. I kept my eyes on the trail. It was my tunnel vision.

More time passed and now I was physically ill. Only so many yards from the forest's opening and where it looked as if the bucks tracks disappeared suddenly, I collapsed to my knees. The opening began to look like two, then three. Okay, Gia, wake up now. The soft bed of snow I collapsed in was so soft and actually felt good on my aching legs. I heard light murmurs… voices. They were whispering. I blinked rapidly. Feeling like I slowly melted the rest of the way to lay down in the bed of snow. The jingling of bells sounded as loud as a siren right now. It almost hurts? I was too weak to react. When I let the last of my strength turn toward the bells, I saw two — maybe four, shorter figures some yards away. I felt myself panic but then I felt my eyes become heavier. Don’t hurt me. Please… I thought. Then I succumbed to the darkness. Into what felt like nothing.

“I’m not sure… she was in the snow in her knickers and a coat.” A gruff man’s voice said. “Good thing you found her when ye did.” an elderly woman’s voice responded to him. “I told Prince Elion. He should be here soon to treat her.” Prince? I felt the urge to rise but then the overwhelming warmth of the very soft bed, as it felt like the best bed I’d ever laid on. My body still aches. “Aye, she’s practically skin and bone, Marvis.” The woman’s voice said. “We need to feed her.” The lull of her voice was so close to my grandma’s. It practically lulled me back into a sleep.

I stirred awake again to the sound of heavy boots on the wooden floor. I felt a little more rested than before to be able to open my eyes this time. A very short and stocky man’s back was to me as he spoke to a noticeably taller man than he. And he… He was gorgeous. A light olive-toned-skinned man, with blondish, gold hair and ice-blue eyes that were so defined it looked as if he was sculpted. But they were so mesmerizing. Like a light at the end of the… the forest. The door!… reality hitting me felt like a bad trip! I sat up, and the two men looked at me. The short man pulled a knife from a sheath on his hip. I screamed! The taller, dreamy stranger put himself between the armed man and me on the bed. His hands up, “Hey, Marvis wouldn’t hurt you, would you Marvis?” He looked at the short man, his voice hinting to put it down. And he did, slowly. His eyes on me. The dreamy man looked back to me, a heartthrob-celebrity-like and charming grin spread on his face reassuringly. “See? You are safe. They found you in the cold…” he explained the scenario. Not coming close, but now slowly moving to stand straight, more aloof. I still clenched the thick comforter so hard my tan knuckles were white. My eyes fixed on him. “I’m Elion. Prince of Whispering Pines.” “Prince?” I blurted out. His smile looked so pleased that I spoke. It was cute. It made me want to smile. I bit it back quickly. Elion kept his warm smile. “Yes. I can answer any questions you may have.” I watched him. He looked over at the rocking chair that was beside the side of the bed I was on. He gestured with his right hand, “May I sit? I can move it toward the end of the bed if it would make you more comfortable.” I nodded a yes. He wore clothes like hobbits — or whatever they were in those books and movies Lola had shown me. His shirt was dark, charcoal grey. His trousers black, with black boots and a black, heavy, beautifully, regally embroidered hooded cloak. The prince was lean and strong, he picked up the thick wooden roving chair so swiftly, moving it to where he said. He sat, like an eager school boy. Waiting.

“Oh… So.” I paused. What do I ask him… A sudden sound of heels on the wooden floor made us all turn to the door. The door swung open, bumping the brick wall. “Oopsi daisy!” A woman with a big bun of dark hair with curly tendrils hanging about her face, red framed circle glasses, in a gown that made her look like a wench — I think that’s what they’re called from that timeframe! Pirate times! - she was a thicker woman and shorter than the man referred to as ‘Marvis’. And she was carrying a tray of things. “My apologies, darling,” her accent rolled off her tongue strongly. My guess was Scottish. “You best get ye energy up. You about caught your death, las. I’m going to put this on this side, so ye can pick as ye go. The tea is good for you. Drink it.” I nodded, afraid in the most comforting way to object. I looked back to the prince who was watching me intently. His eyes were piercing and felt smothering. I looked at the tray of food. It looked delightful! I haven’t had a real home-cooked meal since forever. I started small and grabbed the tea cup that looked like it contained a crimson, glimmering and steaming liquid. It smelled like apples and cinnamon. I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of calm. I hesitated. Looking at the woman in her eyes, “Did you drug this?” The small woman’s eyes looked bewildered. Confused. “Excuse me, las? Drugged?” She then looked at Elion. Even if it was, would they tell me? Probably not. "You are a human?" Marvis said, looking at Elion, then back to me. Elion still looked so at ease. "No, you have not been drugged or enchanted by any means." Enchanted? I thought to myself. What the hell?!

"But you are human, yes?" Elion asked me. I looked him in his eyes. Nodding yes. "How did you get here?" My heart picked up. "A door... A closet door in my motel room." They all seemed confused at what I was saying. Elion nodded, "I'm familiar with mortals." “That means access was granted to her.” I looked at Marvis, who turned from Elion to me, “Who are you in cahoots with, girl?” He asked pointedly. I felt my anxiety overflowing me, making me want to run! “I - No, I didn’t ask for access to anywhere!” I said my arms flailed out in front of me, as if he was coming closer. He wasn’t but the heightening tension wasn’t helping. Elion rose, putting himself between Marvis and me again. “Enough. No one is goin to harm you here, for one. Two, Marvis,” he turned to look at him. He began to speak in a language I could not understand. It sounded unreal. Mythical almost. Marvis responded short but nodded when Elion did not respond. Elion then pulled a pocket-watch out. Concealing it again, and looking at me. “I must go. Marvis will come with me and you will be in Missus’ care. Is that okay until I can come talk to you some more?” I wanted to go home - or wherever my stuff was! Just not here. I nodded. He smiled warmly, saying something in that weird language again, and he and Marvis left.

I sat in a daze. What was happening?! I felt the panic beginning in the center of my brain. Like an orb of it was about to explode all in my body! “Drink your tea, dear. And if you want sleep, just sprinkle a bit of mint in it.” I nodded, unable to find my voice right now. Trying to stay alert and not freak the hell out was exhausting me. Missus left me by myself which made me so happy. I took her advice, with the tea and mint. After a few sips, I instantly began to melt into the plush, warm bed. Letting the softness take me in and lull me to sleep.